Amusement apparatus



Aug. 29, 1933. H sHlsOFF 1,924,757

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May '7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Il I l o 9 Tief-@- ATTORNEYS I ug- 29, 1933 H. sHlsoFF MUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May '7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS M2M/M ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, l33

Harry Shisof, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 7, l2?

7 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus, particularly of that class wherein resilient balls are thrown or otherwise projected at a target or its equivalent and in which the saine balls are subsequently used after a given number have been thrown or projected.

The present invention is particularly concerned in an improved means for encec ting the return of the balls to a common point for delivery to the patrons.

More specifically, the invention comprchends in an ainuseinent apparatus of t1 e char set forth, means presenting' a surface or surf "es causing the balls used in connection with paratus, to gravitationally roi to a mechanism.

As a further feature, the invention contemplates in an amusement appar. is which employs resilient balls, a ball returning ans which presents surfaces of such a nature as to reduce or deaden the normal bounding tendencies thereof, in order to cause said balls to be more rapidly ref turned to the rece Aifing point of a delivery mechani n for speed: up or hastening the use of the apparatus and f avoiding unnecessary delay incident to rebound' "g of the balls.

Other objects of the invention reside in the sirnplicity of construction of the apparatus, the economy with which it may be produced and installed'and the general efficiency derived therefrom. Y Y

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the clairns dene the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the ball returning and delivering means.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View therethrough taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure Ll is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 4 4 in Figure 2. l

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 5 5 in Figure s.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 6 6 of l'ligure'ei..`

Serial No.

rus-5 Figure 7 isa n transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at Figure 2. its principal adaptation, the invention as ilrelates to an amusement apparatus i eniploys a standard basket-ball AV which is ted to be thrown into a standard basket-ball liet which basket is supported in front of oaclrboard C. The backboard C is in turn suitsupported directly front of the rear wall D of a stall orpbooth which is dened by said rear wall D, and side E. In practice, the walls of the stall be of wire mesh, as illustrated, or otherwise formed. The stall or booth is provided with suitable ineans in the lower portion thereof for receivingr returning the balls A to a common point at the front thereof where the patrons inayhave readyv accessthereto. As illustrated, said means consists or" a framework designated generally by the reference character which supports a rear panel 10 presenting a surface which is inclined forwardly and pitched laterally toward one side of thebooth or stall, said panel approxiinat g the width of the. stall and extending from the rearvwall forwardly an appropriate distance. A second panel l1 extends from the front of the framework F rearwardly to and joins the rear panel lo, andsaid panel 11 is inclined rearwardly. Tl e front edge of the front panel 1l is substantially horizontal, while the rear edge thereof is pitched laterally coincident with the lateral pitch of the rear panel 10, and the upper surface 'of the front panel y11 between the front rear edges is of gradually decreasing lateral pitch fromi the rear edge to the front edge.- The front panel ll is of lesser width. than the rear panel and the side edge corresponding to the highside edge `of the rear panel l0 aligns with said side edge `while the `opposite side edge of `said front panel terminates in later-V ally and inwardly spaced relation to the opposite side wall E of the booth or stall. Ylin practice, the panels l0 and ll are made of canvas or a similar flexible fabric or material which is suitably stretched over the framework in order to present the surfaces which will reduce or detain the normal rebounding tendencies of the balls A, whereby the said balls will be Acaused to more rapidly come to rest for a purpose which will 'be hereafter set forth. Due to the pitch and inclination of the panels lo and 11, it is obvious that the balls A will gravitationally roll to the lower side of the panels at their juncture, and obviously gravitate from the panels into the space which is defined between the low side edge of the panel il,

the low front edge of the panel 10 and the side wall E of the stall. Extending from this point forwardly and downwardly is a ball guide or track which in the present instance is composed of a pair of spaced parallel rods 12 which terminate approximately at the front of the framework F and which leadthe balls into a tray 13.

In order to collect a predetermined number of balls on the guide or track at a point spaced from its front terminal, a detent 14 is provided which is in the nature of a plate hinge or fulcrum at its upper end as at 15 and depending from the fulcrum to a point where its lower end intersects the path of movement of the balls on the track. A lever 16 is connected with the detent 14 and is also connected by a link 17 to an operating lever 18 arranged adjacent the front of the booth or stall. In practice, the lever may be suitably locked in a position to render the detent active by a coin controlled mechanism which is adapted to release the lever upon deposit of a coin in the mechanism. In order to cover the ball guide so as to prevent the balls A from bounding onto the same in advance of the detent, a cover member 19 is employed, and said cover member is preferably hinged as at 2D to the framework F at one of its side edges while the opposite side edge is designed to rest upon a rail 21. As illusrated, the cover member 19 declines laterally inward so as to cause the balls which may drop thereon to gravitate therefrom onto the panel 11.

The framework F which supports the panels 1G and i1 and the ball guide is formed with a front panel 22 which defines a counter in front of winch the patron stands in throwing the balls at the basket B. The front panel terminates at one edge from the side of the stall or booth an appropriate distance to permit of the free passage of the balls into the receiving door 13, while the manipulating lever 18 is positioned at a point within convenient reach of the patrons standing in front of the panel 22. In practice, the framework is preferably made up of angle iron rails 23 and the rails between which the canvas panels 10 and l1 are stretched have the upper anges 24 horizontal, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, with the edges of the canvas resting thereon, Vdoubled back and clamped between strips 25 which are bolted or otherwise secured by fastening elements 26. In order to distribute the holding strain, rods 2'? are inserted within the bight portions 28 of the doubled back edges, the rods and bight portions being disposed slightly beyond the outer edges of the rails 23 and strips 25.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement apparatus including in combination with a basket-ball and a stall having side walls and a back wall with a basket supported by the back wall, ball returning means in the lower portion of and extending throughout the bottom area of the booth, said returning means consisting of a table having a ball riuiway extending at a forward and downward inclination from a point adjacent the rear of the booth and at one side thereof, said table presenting surfaces pitched in such a manner as to gravitationally direct the balls to the elevated rear receiving end of the runway.

2. An amusement apparatus including in combination with a basket-ball and a stall having side walls and a back wall with a basket supported by the back wall, ball returning means in the lower portion of and extending throughout the bottom area of the booth, said returning means consisting of a table having a ball runway extending at a forward and downward inclination from a point adjacent the rear of the booth and at one side thereof, said table presenting surfaces pitched in such a manner as to gravitationally direct the balls to the elevated rear receiving end of the runway, a detent in the runway adjacent its rear end for detaining the balls and means adjacent the front end of the booth for releasing the detent.

3. In an amusement apparatus, a stall including a rear wall carrying a target at which resilient balls are projected, side walls and a floor, ball delivering means and means in the lower portion of and covering the entire floor area of the stall for gravitationally returning the balls to the ball delivering means, said returning means consisting of a framework and panels supported thereby, longitudinally inclined and laterally pitched toward a common point at the receiving end of the delivering means.

4. In an amusement device, a stall including a rear wall carrying a target at which resilient balls are projected, side walls and a fioor, ball delivering means and means in the lower portion of and covering the entire floor area of the stall for gravitationally returning the balls to the ball delivering means, said returning means consisting of a framework and panels supported thereby, longitudinally inclined and laterally pitched toward a comin-on point at the receiving end of the delivering means, said panels being of a material oi' limited yleldability to reduce the rebound tendencies of the balls.

5. In an amusement apparatus, a stall including a rear wall carrying a target at which resilient balls are projected, side walls and a floor, ball delivering means and means in the lower portion of and covering the entire floor area of the stall for gravitationally returning the balls to the ball delivering means, said returning means consisting of a framework and flexible panels stretched over the upper portion of the frameworl; to present surfaces longitudinally inclined and laterally pitched toward a common point at the receiving end of the delivering means.

6. In an amusement apparatus, a stall including a rear wall carrying a target at which resilient balls are projected, side walls and a floor, ball delivering means and means in the lower portion of and covering the entire floor area of the stall for gravitationally returning the balls to the ball delivering means, said returning means consisting of a framework and flexible panels stretched over the upper portion of the framework to present surfaces longitudinally inclined and laterally pitched toward a common point at the receiving end of the delivering means, said panels having a limited yieldability to reduce the rebound tendencies of the balls.

7. In an amusement apparatus, a stall including a target at which resilient projectiles may be-cast, projectile delivering means and means in the lower portion of and covering the entire bottom area of the stall for gravitationally returning the projectiles to the projectile delivering means, said returning means consisting of a framework and flexible panels stretched thereover and presenting surfaces longitudinally inclined and laterally pitched toward a common point at the receiving end of the delivering means, the panel at the forward end of said stall being raised and defining a counter.

HARRY SHISOFF. 

